Great Faith and Little Faith. In full disclosure, I am writing about 信仰, but not because of my own 信仰. I write about 信仰 because of Jesus, the object of my 信仰. 我不忠诚. 我在信仰上跌跌撞撞. I am one of little 信仰 or no 信仰 more often than possessing any semblance of great 信仰. 然而,, because of Jesus and His Father, we, the righteous, are called to live by 信仰. This is not a belief in God because we know and see what He is doing but is this very trust in Him when we do not see what He is doing (希伯来书11:1). Matthew explains further that great 信仰 in God is rooted in the truth that God cares about us.
马太福音8 records several interactions of Jesus with people regarding this subject of 信仰. Some falter with little 信仰 and some surprise with great 信仰. The truly amazing part is that Jesus is continually 信仰ful regardless of little or great 信仰. In 1 - 4节 we see a leper approach Jesus with incredible 信仰. Leprosy was a death sentence in so many ways, not the least of which is physical death. 然而,, this castaway approaches Jesus (this took 信仰), spoke to Jesus (this took 信仰), 并大胆推断, “主, 如果你愿意, you can make me clean” (this loudly proclaimed 信仰). Jesus responded, “I will; be clean.” This causes me to pause and consider I truly believe that God is able to do what He wills.
百夫长(vs. 5-13) then approaches Jesus (a non-Jew approaching a Jewish Rabbi required 信仰). This took 信仰 because of the ridicule he would receive from his peers and the potential rejection from the Jews for speaking to Jesus. 在信上, he believed Jesus would care so he spoke to Jesus about his servant who was paralyzed, 在家里, 和痛苦. Jesus responds by saying that He will come to his house, but the centurion humbly says that he is unworthy to have Jesus in his home. The centurion, in 信仰, says to Jesus, “Only say the word and my servant will be healed.” Jesus marvels at his 信仰 and says that in all of Israel He has not seen such 信仰. Jesus responds, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very moment. This causes me to pause and consider how much I have missed out on because I lack belief in what God can do.
In 诗汽车出行, Matthew gives the account of he and the disciples being on the sea of Galilee when a huge storm arose. He records that the boat was being swamped by the waves. The disciples, several who were experts on the sea, feared for their life. Jesus was asleep on the boat during the storm. The disciples woke Jesus crying out, “Save us Lord; we are perishing” (this did take 信仰 to wake Jesus). Jesus responds, “Why are you afraid, O you of little 信仰.” The contrast is quite clear, the leper boldly asks Jesus to heal him if Jesus wills. The leper has great confidence in Jesus and His power. The centurion is so trusting in Jesus, that He believes that if Jesus will just say the word that His servant will be healed even from a great distance. The disciples do act in 信仰 by waking Jesus, but their fear is greater than their 信仰. They did not have confidence that Jesus cared about them and therefore their fear of their circumstances ruled their hearts. This causes me to pause and consider how often I question God’s interest in my well-being resulting in little 信仰 in Him.
Jesus does speak and calm the sea. This disciples marvel that the winds and sea obey Him. Jesus marvels at great 信仰 (vs. 10), but the disciples marvel when Jesus does great deeds (vs. 27). The first two men have 信仰 in who Jesus is. He is a man of compassion that has the power to heal. The disciples doubted Jesus’ compassion (马克38) and therefore questioned if He would act for their perceived good. Faith begins with the trust that God does care for us and as a result He will act on our behalf. Do we believe that He cares about us? When we do believe that He does care for us, our 信仰 in Him will shift from little 信仰 to greater 信仰. This causes me to pause and consider if my 信仰 is small because my belief in His care for me is small.